Admitting and transferring patients
Refer a new patient
To refer a new patient to any of our locations of care in Boston, Lexington, Peabody, Waltham or Weymouth:
- Call 617-355-7252
Scheduled admission (elective)
If you need to schedule an admission to Boston Children's and you do not have attending privileges, please:
- Page the Coordinator of Patient Placement (COPP) at 617-355-6369
- Or, call direct at 617-355-0000
Unplanned/emergency admission
If a patient needs to be admitted to Boston Children's, but Emergency Services are not needed:
- Page the Coordinator of Patient Placement (COPP) at 617-355-6369
- Or, call direct at 617-355-0000
Transfer an unstable patient
If a patient needs to be transferred from another facility to Boston Children's Hospital, call 866-771-KIDS. An attending physician will mobilize the Critical Care Transport Team, discuss the availability of a bed and plan for interim stabilization.
Medical passport
Boston Children's has a new "medical passport" (medication list) form for patients to bring with them during their visit.
The passport is a form that referring health care providers can use to help list all of a patient's prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies and supplements, including dose and frequency.
How to transport a patient
Boston Children's Emergency Communications Center facilitates and coordinates emergency patient transport to the hospital. With one phone call, community pediatric providers can request:
- Boston Children's Critical Care Transport Team
- Transfer to Boston Children's Emergency Department or Intensive Care Unit
- Access to Boston Children's specialists for urgent consultation
Trained communication specialists dedicated to handling emergency referrals for medical, surgical, trauma, neonatal and cardiac patients staff the Center. The Center's staff works closely with community providers (physicians, nurses, administrative staff) to mobilize the Critical Care Transport Team, discuss the availability of a bed, and plan for interim stabilization.
- For transport: 1-866-771-KIDS (toll-free)
- For information: 617-355-2170
Important phone numbers
- Boston Children's Hospital (main number): 617-355-6000
- Emergency Communications Center (referrals and request for transportation team): 866-771-KIDS or 617-355-2170
- Emergency Medicine: 617-355-6611
- Trauma Program: 617-355-5400
Accepted health insurances
Below is a list of the major managed care health plans accepted by Boston Children's Hospital physicians practicing at all Boston Children's locations. This list is subject to change; please check with each physician before referring a patient to confirm which plans he or she currently accepts.
- Aetna/US Healthcare
- Beech Street of California
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
- CIGNA HealthCare (Healthsource)
- Fallon Community Health Plan
- HUGHP (Harvard University)
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- HealthCare Value Management
- HealthNet (BMC)*
- Interlink Health
- LifeTrac Network
- Neighborhood Health Plan
- Network Health (CPHC)*
- Northeast Health Alliance
- One Health Plan
- Private Healthcare Systems
- Pinnacle Health
- SummaCare
- Tufts (Unicare GIC)
- United Health Care
In addition, Boston Children's Hospital's physicians participate in the Massachusetts Medicaid program and most traditional insurance plans. Patients may contact their carriers for specific benefit information.
For further information, please call Patient Financial Services at 617-355-3397.
* — Medicaid HMO
Referral tool kit
On behalf of our entire team, we would like to thank you for your continued partnership.
Based on your feedback, we have developed map pads, phone directories and other tools to help you and your patients gain access to our specialists with ease. Our continued goal is to provide you with exceptional care and exceptional service.